Developing a Self-Evaluating School: A Practical Guide

Do you need to urgently develop a cohesive school evaluation system? Are you a middle leader looking to conduct your own small scale research? Do you need to find a systematic way to evaluate your extended school? Self-evaluation is a part of everyday school life but it can be both daunting and time consuming. This practical, easy to navigate guide introduces the main tools of self-evaluation and looks at how schools and individuals in different contexts and roles have successfully used these tools in a holistic way. Designed to be easily ‘dipped into' according to your needs, each chapter has been divided into three sections; the basics, the detail and a conclusion. The basics provides an overview of key tools and approaches, the detail gives guidance on implementation with plenty of case studies and questions at the end of each section encourage reflection on your own context and practice. Written with busy professionals in mind, this book is essential reading for the senior leadership team, middle leaders and teachers interested in developing their own self-evaluations.

Table of Contents:
Preface: How to use this book: A guide for readers \ 1. Introduction \ Part 1: Self-Evaluation Tools and Techniques \ 2. Lesson Observation \ 3. Work Scrutiny \ 4. Pupil Focus Groups \ 5. Questionnaires \ 6. Pupils Conducting Lesson Observations \ 7. Analysing Statistical Data \ Part 2: Self Evaluation in Practice \ 8. Teaching and Learning Review Systems \ 9. Self-Evaluation Data of Continuous Professional Development \ 10. Using Self-Evaluation to Validate Progress \ Appendices \ Index 

About the Author :
Paul K. Ainsworth is an Academy Advisor for a large Multi-Academy Trust after being Head of a secondary school. Paul frequently writes for Optimus Education and has had articles published in many educational publications. He is regularly approached to speak at national teaching conferences and recently spoke at a TEDx. Paul is a Research Associate for the National College School of Leadership and a member of the editorial panel of Sec Ed.

Review :
‘A very welcome and valuable publication that will undoubtedly provide crucial support and a wealth of advice for school leaders and staff across the UK. Whether you are required to formally self-evaluate or not, this book outlines how adopting simple and effective systems can help you to drive and inspire constant progression and improvement in your school. Vitally, it also outlines the pitfalls and dangers of self-evaluation if not implemented properly. Paul's advice will challenge any school leader to think about what tools and techniques they can and should be using, and how these can be made to work effectively in practice. Engaging and challenging reading.' Pete Henshaw, Editor and Publisher of SecEd, London, UK 'Paul Ainsworth is an expert in the field of continuing professional development of teachers and school improvement. His most recent work, Developing a Self-Evaluating School, is an excellent addition to the debate on how to improve schools from within rather than from above and will be welcomed by school leaders.' Su Clark, editor, CPD Update Author article in SecEd. Reviewed in CPD Update, September 2010, Issue 129 (UK) ‘The key to this book is its flexibility and utility. Busy professionals will find it invaluable' Reviewed in Extended Schools Update, October 2010 (UK) ‘This book sweeps aside the bureaucracy that can cloud and obscure the benefits to schools of carrying out regular and thorough self evaluations, and provides a series of valuable tools that can be used alone, or in combination, to assess teaching and learning provision within your school ... an excellent book'